Introduction

All energy sources affect the environment.

There is no such thing as a completely clean
energy source.
Getting the energy we need affects our
environment in many different ways. Some energy
sources have a greater impact than others. Energy
is lost to the environment during any energy
transformation, usually as heat. Notice the heat
from your computer or car after it has been in use
for a while. Nothing is completely energy efficient.
Fortunately, the energy industry has become
increasingly aware of the importance of
environmental protection and is working to reduce
its long-term impact.

Types of energy sources:

There are two types of energy conventional
and non-conventional :

*Conventional
(1)Steam power station (oil-gas-coal).

(2)Hydroelectric.

*Non-conventional
(3)Nuclear power station
(4)Solar power station
(5)Wind power station
(6)Geothermal power plant
(7)Biomass

(1)Steam power
station(oil,gas,coal).
Introduction:
A thermal power station is a power plant in
which the prime mover is steam driven. Water
is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam
turbine which drives an electrical generator.
After it passes through the turbine, the steam
is condensed in a condenser and recycled to
where it was heated; this is known as a
Rankine cycle.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN COAL BASED

POWER GENERATION:

-- Air Pollution :-High particulate matter

emission levels due to burning of inferior
grade coal which leads to generation of
large quantity of flyash Emissions of SO2,
NOx & Green house gas (CO2) are also matter
of concern.
Water Pollution :- Mainly caused by
the effluent discharge from ash ponds,
condenser cooling /cooling tower, DM
plant and Boiler blowdown.
Noise Pollution :- High noise levels
due to release of high pressure steam
and running of fans and motors .
Land Degradation :- About 100 million
tonnes of fly ash is generated by use
of coal far energy production. The
disposal of such large quantity of fly
ash hasoccupied thousands hectares
of land which includes agricultural
and forest land too.

Solutions
To minimize the harmful effects caused by the
emissions from coal, the use of refined coal is
advisable. Refined coal is the product of a coal-

upgrading technology that removes moisture and

certain pollutants from lower-rank coals such as
sub-bituminous and lignite (brown) coals. It is a
form of several pre-combustion treatment
processes for coal, which alters
coals characteristics before it is burned.
Lowering the combustion temperature of the
furnace in electric power plant is aviable control
strategy for nitrogen oxides (NOx).
To control the harmful effects of sulphur
dioxide, it is best advised to use alternative
sources for power generation, i.e.,discouraging
fossil fuel based powerplants.
Another promising method of controlling air
pollution is the Polish solution based on electron
beam

(2)Hydroelectric
Hydro-electric power is obtained from running
water which is used to turn the propeller-like piece
called turbine, which is used to turn a metal shaft
in an electric generator. This metal shaft is the
motor that produce electricity. Some power plants
are located on rivers,streams, and canals, but for a
reliable water supply, dams are needed. In a hydro-

electric power plant, the dam is used to store up

lots of water behind it in the reservoir. Near the
bottom of the dam wall the water intake gravity
causes water to fall through the penstock inside
the dam. There is a turbine propeller at the
end of the penstock, which is turned by the moving
water. The water continues past the propeller
through the tail race into the river past the dam.
The shaft from the turbine goes up into the
generator, which in turn, produces power. For the
generator, a hydraulic turbine converts the energy
of flowing water into mechanical energy. The
hydroelectric generator then converts the
mechanical energy into electricity. Power lines are
connected to the generator that carries electricity
to the various destinations, See

Effects of hydroelectric power

generation on the
environment:
Reservoir creation creates the release of green
house gases such as methane, CO etc. The release
is as a result of microbial decomposition when
upland forests and peat land are flooded in the
course of reservoir creation. The above of standing

trees causes pollution by contributing to the

emission of CO methane.
Hydroelectric power plant can cause the
reduction of soil fertility and big reservoirs can
cause earthquakes as the weight of water pressing
on the rock weakens the
earth crust. This is known as reservoir induced
seismicity
Reservoir of the hydroelectric power causes
reduced spawning success of fishes and it reduces
animal population

Possible solutions:
Fish passages should be created to aid the
migration of fishes .New dam sites should be chosen
with the environmental impacts in mind. Dams
should not be erected near residential areas or
near the town, but it should be erected further up
or down the river to prevent illfeeling .Endangered species should be

relocated

(3)Nuclear power station.

Introduction:

 It deals with the generation of power from the

rapid release of atomic energy from Uranium
when an atom is split by a neutron. In a nuclear
fission chain reaction, a Uranium 235 atom
absorbs a neutron and splits into two new
fission fragments, releasing three new neutrons
and a large amount of binding energy. An atom
ofUranium-238 absorbs one of these neutrons
and does not continue the reaction, while
another neutron leaves the system
unabsorbed. Thesingle neutron left collides
with an atom ofUranium-235, which in turn

splits and releases two neutrons and more

energy.

Environmental Impact by
nuclear:

Nuclear power plants produce no air pollution

or carbon dioxide, but they do produce
byproducts like nuclear waste and spent fuels.
Most nuclear waste is low level (for example,
disposable items that have come into contact
with small amounts of radioactive dust), and
special regulations are in place to prevent
them from harming the environment. But some

spent fuel is highly radioactive and must be

stored in specially designed facilities. In
addition to the fuel waste, much of the
equipment in the nuclear power plants
becomes contaminated with radiation and will
become radioactive waste after the plant is
closed. These wastes will remain radioactive
for many thousands of years, which may not
allow re-use of the contaminated land.
Nuclear power plants use large quantities of
water for steam production and for cooling,
affecting fish and other aquatic life. Likewise,
heavy metals and salts can build up in the
water used in the nuclear power plant systems.
When water is discharged from the power
plant, these pollutants can negatively affect
water quality and aquatic life.

solutions:
The possible solutions to minimizing the risk of
nuclear power generation include:
Dramatically improving efficient energy use
and greenhouse gas emissions intensity by
updating technology and functionality
through its entire life cycle.
Eliminating all radioactive wastes at the end of

its life and minimizing the environmental impact

during the nuclear
fuel cycle.
Improving nuclear security to reduce
nuclear power risk and making sure that
the nuclear industry can operate without large
public nuclear accident insurance subsidies [15].
To minimize the effect of this method of
power generation on aquatic life, power
plant operators should install and maintain

(4)Solar power station.

Introduction:
Due to technological improvements, solar energy
has experienced phenomenal growth in recent
years. This results in reduction in the cost of
energy production and utilization. Solar energy
represents our largest source of renewable energy
supply. Power is generated from the sun by the use
of photovoltaic cells, which convert the radiation
from the sun into Direct Current (DC) power. The
DC power can then be converted into Alternating
Current (AC) power and it is then fed into the grid,
see Although the cost of production of solar

photovoltaic power is high, it is a clean source of

power supply and can be a very good alternative
to fossil fuels . Also, we have a concentrated solar
power. This technology makes use of various types
of mirrors to concentrate sunlight energy and
produce heat.
This heat is used to generate electricity in a
standard Rankine cycle turbine. Like most
thermoelectric methods of power generation, this
consumes water. The major problem that arises
from this method is the fact that solar power
plants are commonly located in the desert
environment due to the need for sunlight and
large expanse of land. Many concentrated solar
systems
also use exotic fluids to absorb and
collect heat while remaining at a low pressure.
This fluid could be dangerous if spilled [22] solar
power is a renewable source of power
generation
and provides a clean source of energy generation,
as the new manufacturing process
does not contribute to environmental pollution.

Effects on the environment:

Solar energy produces no air or water
pollution or greenhouse gases. However, it has
some indirect impacts on the environment. For
example, the manufacturing of photovoltaic
cells (PV) produces some toxic materials and
chemicals.

Ecosystems can also be affected by solar

systems. Water from underground wells may
be required to clean concentrators and
receivers, and to cool the generator, which
may harm the ecosystem in dry climates.

Possible solutions:
Proper care should be taken when dealing with the
exotic fluids used in concentrated solar systems, so
as to avoid its The new manufacturing process
employed in the manufacture of solar cells from
silica have eliminated CO2 production,
therefore,the new manufacturing method should
be employed.

(5)Wind power station.

Introduction:
The wind flow, when trapped by the wind turbine,
can be used to produce mechanical power. Wind
turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind
into mechanical power. The wind turbine, like the
aircraft propeller blades, turns in the moving air
and power an electric generator which, in turn,
supplies electric current. Wind turbine uses wind to
make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which
spins a shaft that connects to a generator
and produces electricity, Wind energy can serve as
an alternative to fossil fuels. Wind energy is clean,
environmental friendly, and
cheaper compared to other sources of renewable
energy.
It protects the earth from atmospheric
contamination. It was also found that wind
energy has minimal impacts on the habitat
compared to other sources of energy.
It doesnt
produce greenhouse gas emissions during
operation and it uses little expanse of land.

Impact on the environment:

 Wind is a clean energy source. It produces no

air or water pollution because no fuel is burned
to generate electricity. The most serious
environmental impact from wind energy may
be its effect on bird and bat mortality. Wind
turbine design has changed dramatically in the
last couple of decades to reduce this impact.
Turbine blades are now solid, so there are no
lattice structures that entice birds to perch.
Also, the blades surface area is much larger,
so they dont have to spin as fast to generate
power. Slower-moving blades mean fewer bird
collisions

Possible solutions:
Wind turbines should be sited at a far distance
from residential areas and
property lines in order to minimize noise pollution
and to enhance the safety of the
people living in the neighborhood.
The location and operation of the turbine should
be modified so as to avoid or
minimize its impacts on threatened species and
their habitats.

Before building wind turbines, engineers should

be conversant with the types of
noise a wind turbine produce so as to know the
prevention method to apply. The
types of noise produced by a wind turbine are
divided into two; mechanical and
aerodynamic noise.
Mechanical noise, which is produced by the
moving components such as gear box,
electrical generator, and bearings as a result of
wear and tear, poor component
designs or lack of preventative maintenance. It can
be minimized at the
design stage by using side-toothed gear

(6)Geothermal power plant.

Introduction:
It involves the drilling of wells; perhaps a mile or
two in depth in search of rock temperatures in the
range of 300 to 700 F. The heat energy is
converted into electricity at a geothermal power
plant. Water is pumped down this well where it is
reheated by hot rocks. It travels through natural
fissures and rise up a second well as steam, which

can be used to spin a turbine and generate

electricity

Impact on the environment:

Geothermal power plants have relatively little
environmental Impact they burn no fuel to create
electricity.These plants do create small amounts of
carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds, but
geothermal emissions are far smaller than those
created by fossil fuel power plants.

Possible solutions:
The following solutions are suggested:
Stations experiencing high levels of acids and
volatile chemicals should be equipped with
emission-control system to reduce the exhaust.
The gases can also be injected back into the earth
as a form of carbon capture and storage.
Scrubbers can reduce air emissions if used and
the sludge produced from it must be disposed of at
hazardous waste sites

(7)Biomass.
Introduction:

 This refers to vegetation used as fuel or source

of energy. They are used to generate electricity
by providing direct heat and can be converted
into biofuel as a direct substitute for fossil fuel,
see Fig. 9. It is derived from wood waste,
landfill gas, crop and alcohol fuels. Traditional
biomass, including waste woods, charcoal and
manure has been a source of energy for
domestic cooking and heating throughout
human history.

Impact on the environment

Biomass creates harmful emissions like carbon
dioxide and sulfur when it is burned, but causes
less pollution than fossil fuels. Even burning wood
in a fireplace or stove can create pollutants like
carbon monoxide. Burning municipal solid waste, or
garbage that would otherwise go into a landfill, can
also cause potentially dangerous emissions.
Combustion of these materials must be carefully
controlled. Disposing of the resulting ash can also
pose a problem, as it may contain harmful metals
like lead and cadmium. Ethanol is often added to
gasoline, and while these mixtures burn cleaner
than pure gasoline, they also have higher

evaporative emissions from dispensing

equipment and fuel tanks. These emissions
contribute to ozone problems and smog. Burning
ethanol also creates carbon dioxide.

Possible solutions:
As an alternative to wet-recirculating and the
once-through cooling technologies, dry-cooling
systems could be employed, as it does not
withdraw or consume any water
Net zero global warming emissions can be
achieved if forest managers harvest in sustainable
manner and replant with fast growing tree species